Introduction: Mother's Day Gift Herb Window Garden for Only 20 $
Step 1: This You Need
Five flower zinc pots
Five herb seedlings, I used Basil, chive, Rosemary, parsley and lemon balm that I bought from the supermarket.
Five plastic planter pots, MAKE SURE THEY FIT INSIDE THE ZINC POTS.
New soil
Hydrograins or something else that drains in the bottom of the new plastic pots. (I used small rocks fund outside for free !)
Latex gloves
Respirator for spray painting.
Masking tape.
Paint.
Exacto knife.
Computer and a printer.
Step 2: Mask the Zinc Pots and Trace the Pattern.
Start by cleaning the pots.
After the post are clean and dry.
You put on a layer of masking tape on the pots.
Make sure to press down the tape all the way and leave no air bubbles or gaps between the pot and the tape.
When the tape is in place you can start to trace you design on to the tape.
My design saysI "HEART" M O M .
The font I use is named PW VALENTINE LOVE and you can find it here at dafont.com for FREE.
On the first pot I cut out the design before i traced the design
BUT I realized it was easier to just push hard with the pen on the paper with the design on.
So there was grooves in the tape after the pen, when I removed the paper.
Now you can take the pen and fill in the grooves on tthe tape that you made with the pen.
After you have traces you hole design take your exacto knife an cut a long the lines you have drawn on to the tape.
IS NOW TIME TO REMOVE THE TAPE EXCEPT ON THE AREAS WHERE YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR DESIGN AND WHERE THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY PAINT!!!
Make a last check and look over the tape an make sure its in places before you start to paint.
Step 3: Time to Paint the Zinc Pots.
Now its time for you to paint the pots.
MAKE SURE TO DO IT OUTSIDE AND USE RESPIRATOR AND GLOWS TO PROTECT YOURSELF !!!
Respirators cost around $15 to $30, but this is much cheaper than a visit to the doctor for respiratory problems.
I use spray paint for outdoor use you can find it here.
But you can use any paint you prefer.
Only make sure that it works on your pots surface and that it can withstand water. If you like me use spry paint.
Shake the can well. Shake the paint can for about three to four minutes before you get started.
This will help to ensure that the paint is mixed well, which is crucial to ensure that the color will be consistent for your project.
Remember that you cannot shake the can too much, but you can shake it too little.
Start by spraying your paint on an inconspicuous area of the item or on a scrap piece of cardboard.
This will give you an idea of how the paint will look when you spray paint your item. It will also give you a chance to test which distance gives you the desired effect.
Apply one coat over your entire project. Make sure to slowly sweep the paint across the surface of your project to get an even coat.
Hold the can of paint about 6-8 inches away from your object.
Don’t apply a heavy coat because the paint may drip and be tacky longer.
The first coat will likely be splotchy and show the original color through the paint,
DON'T PANIC you will cover up any splotchy areas with the second coat of paint.
Allow the first coat to dry for abut 30-60 minutes before applying any more paint.
Although this might NOT always be necessary, I ALWAYS applying a second coat.
It will likely give you more even results and It will help to provide total coverage of your project and give you the brightest possible colors.
Then remove the rest of the tape that you used to protect the areas of your design on the pot.
Allow 24 hours for the second coat of paint to dry.
Apply a topcoat IF YOU desired. Most spray painted items do NOT require a topcoat unless they will be handled frequently.
I DIDN'T USE ANY TOPCOAT!!!If YOU are HAPPY with the finish after applying the spray paint, then DON´T worry about applying a topcoat.
Step 4: REPLANT YOUR SUPERMARKET HERBS
To increase the chances of the herb surviving, it should be moved into a larger pot and be given new soil.
Supermarkets AREN´T watering or fertilizing these herbs the way a nursery might while they’re sitting on the shelves.
SO YOU NEED TO DO IT INSTANTLY !!!
Start by removing the plastic wrapper and the old small plastic pot.
Then gently prod the root ball apart with your hands.
Remove as much old soil as you can whit out damages the roots.
Remove any tiny or broken seedlings by snipping them off at the base of the stems.
These seedlings will never be able to survive in the shade of their taller neighbors.
But don’t throw them out EAT THEM !!!
Plant the herbs in new BIGGER plastic plant pots.
Put abut 1 INCH of hydrograins or something else that drains in the bottom of the new plastic pots use new fresh soil and water the plants DON´T USE NUTRIENTS ONLY CLEAN WATER!!!
NOW YOU CAN PUT YOUR PLASTIC POTS WITH THE HERBS IN YOU PAINTED ZINC POTS AND SURPRISE MOM ON MOTHERS DAY !!!
HOPE YOU LIKE MY INSTRUCTION!
AND IF YOU NEED ANY HELP OR HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FELL FREE TO GET IN CONTACT WITH ME !!!
HAVE A NICE DAY!!!